Presenter Information

Alanna DemersFollow

Degree Program

Graduate

Major

History

Abstract

Illegal animal product trade such as the trade of ivory and rhinoceros horn has become a problem that influences the entire world. Throughout history, from pre-colonial times to modern day, illicit trade in ivory and rhino horn have drastically affected Africa’s development, eco-system, and society. The decline in the rhinoceros and elephant populations on the African continent drastically effect vegetation, which directly correlates with agriculture and the health of people and animals. The history of the illegal ivory and rhino horn trade is complicated, and provides an essential context in order to understand the modern day situation. Scholarly works and current journalism works on poaching depict that illegal poaching and wildlife trade is a complicated web, and cannot be easily stopped. This paper examines illegal poaching conducted within the African continent by using secondary scholarly sources to provide a historical context of poaching and modern day media sources to examine the current day implications of poaching and predications for the future. Examining the history of poaching and how it has impacted the modern day will foster an understanding of how poaching impacts not only the African continent, but the world as well. Unfortunately, without the support of the local communities as well as the international communities, it is unlikely that illegal poaching will come to a halt in the near future.

Keywords: crime, world issues, environment, Africa, animals, poaching, illegal trade

Start Date

13-2-2015 1:30 PM

End Date

13-2-2015 3:00 PM

COinS
 
Feb 13th, 1:30 PM Feb 13th, 3:00 PM

Blood Ivory: The Story of Illegal Poaching and its Global Influence

Illegal animal product trade such as the trade of ivory and rhinoceros horn has become a problem that influences the entire world. Throughout history, from pre-colonial times to modern day, illicit trade in ivory and rhino horn have drastically affected Africa’s development, eco-system, and society. The decline in the rhinoceros and elephant populations on the African continent drastically effect vegetation, which directly correlates with agriculture and the health of people and animals. The history of the illegal ivory and rhino horn trade is complicated, and provides an essential context in order to understand the modern day situation. Scholarly works and current journalism works on poaching depict that illegal poaching and wildlife trade is a complicated web, and cannot be easily stopped. This paper examines illegal poaching conducted within the African continent by using secondary scholarly sources to provide a historical context of poaching and modern day media sources to examine the current day implications of poaching and predications for the future. Examining the history of poaching and how it has impacted the modern day will foster an understanding of how poaching impacts not only the African continent, but the world as well. Unfortunately, without the support of the local communities as well as the international communities, it is unlikely that illegal poaching will come to a halt in the near future.

Keywords: crime, world issues, environment, Africa, animals, poaching, illegal trade